Caps acquire forward Carl Hagelin from Kings

The Washington Capitals have acquired forward Carl Hagelin, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced Thursday.

The Caps added the 30-year-old forward from the Los Angeles Kings for a third round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and a conditional sixth round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. (The conditional pick is based on Washington's playoff success and the number of games Hagelin plays, per the Kings.)

“We are pleased to welcome Carl to our organization," MacLellan said. "We felt this trade enables us to add depth up front and provides us with a veteran player with a tremendous amount of speed to help us on the penalty kill.”

"Huge, huge gain for us in terms of speed, experience and obviously the championship experience as well," Capitals head coach Todd Reirden told the media. "Additionally to that, we see him being a big part of our penalty kill and continuing to try to make that better.”

Reirden​ added the Caps play a different style to the Kings and this can create more opportunities for Hagelin.

"So we feel that this will allow him to use his speed a little bit more and be a factor that way, which we think is really important in the Eastern Conference," Reirden said.

Hagelin has struggled for the Kings this season, with just five points in 22 games, after arriving in a trade from Pittsburgh in November. Overall, Hagelin has contributed two goals and six assists in 38 games in the 2018-19 season.